Physocarpus plant named ‘LP1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Physocarpus opulifolius plant named ‘LP1’ that is characterized by its compact plant habit, its young foliage that is brown-red to orange-red in color and mature foliage that changes to orange in color, and its foliage that turns to a brownish color in autumn.

Botanical classification: Physocarpus opulifolius.

Varietal denomination: ‘LP1’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to a European plant breeders' rightsapplication filed on Mar. 3, 2020, application No. 2020/0631, a Koreanplant breeders' rights application filed on Nov. 30, 2020, applicationNo. 201009, and a United Kingdom plant breeders' rights applicationfiled on Jun. 14, 2021, application No. XU_30202100003152. There havebeen no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effectivefiling date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinaryskill in the art could have been derived from the printed plantbreeder's rights documents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhysocarpus opulifolius and will be referred to hereafter by itscultivar name, ‘LP1’. ‘LP1’ represents a new cultivar of Physocarpus, adeciduous shrub grown for landscape use.

‘LP1’ was discovered August of 2016 by the Inventor as a chance seedlingin a trial field in Achtmaal, The Netherlands. The field had beenplanted with seeds derived from open pollination of unpatented andunnamed proprietary seedlings from the Inventors breeding program. Theparentage is therefore unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bysoftwood stem cuttings by the Inventor in August of 2016 in Achtmaal,The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘LP1’ as a unique and distinct cultivar ofPhysocarpus.

-   -   1. ‘LP1’ exhibits a compact plant habit.    -   2. ‘LP1’ exhibits young foliage that is brown-red to orange-red        in color and mature foliage that changes to orange in color.    -   3. ‘LP1’ exhibits foliage that turns to a brownish color in        autumn.

‘LP1’ can be compared to the Physocarpus opulifolius cultivars ‘Jefam’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,177) and ‘Chameleon’ (not patented). Both‘Jefam’ and ‘Chameleon’ are similar to ‘LP1’ in plant shape. ‘Jefam’differs from ‘LP1’ in having spring foliage that is orange in color,summer and autumn foliage that is green in color, a taller plant height,and a less compact plant habit. ‘Chameleon’ differs from ‘LP1’ in havingspring foliage that is irregularly variegated with deep brownish-red andyellow colors and summer foliage that is irregularly variegated withyellow and green colors.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited towebsite listings by Van Vilet New Plants, Leena Plant Boomkwekerijen,Vorzel Garden, Sp-garden, Prom, Langthorns plantery, Floral Daily (NeilAlcock), Plant2gardens, Visions Pictures, The National GardeningAssociation plant database, and Hortweek.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Physocarpus. The photographs weretaken of a plant 18 months in age as grown in a 13-cm container outdoorsin Achtmaal, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of‘LP1’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the young foliageof ‘LP1’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a mature leaf of‘LP1’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in thedetailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the newPhysocarpus.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 18-month-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown outdoors in a 13-cm containers in Achtmaal, TheNetherlands. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, except where general color termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Compact.        -   Plant shape.—Broadly obovate.        -   Height and spread.—37.6 cm in height, 35.5 cm in width, a            fully mature plant in the landscape reaches an average of            1.5 m in height and 1.25 m in width.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 3.        -   Diseases and pest resistance.—No resistance or            susceptibility to diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Root development.—An average of 6 weeks to initiate roots            and about 5 months to produce a fully rooted young plant.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.-   Branch description:    -   -   Branch color.—Young; 172A and 172B, maturing; 183B and 183C,            old bark; a blend of 199C, N199B, N199C and 200C.        -   Branch size.—An average of 27.6 cm in length and 3 mm in            diameter.        -   Number of lateral branches.—An average of 5 main branches, 9            secondary branches per plant.        -   Branch surface.—Slightly glossy, mature bark finely barked            and exfoliating.        -   Shape.—Young stems are angled with 3 sides, older stems            round.        -   Internode length.—An average 3.4 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branched, average angle of 30°.        -   Branch strength.—Strong.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Broad ovate to cordate in outline, three-lobed.        -   Leaf aspect.—Slightly carinate to slightly convexed.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate, lobes free to slightly overlapping.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface N144C, lower            surface 148A.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces smooth, non-rugose, matte with            small tufts of short hairs in the vein of the axils of the            main and secondary veins an average of 5 mm in length and            160D in color.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 7.8 cm in length and 6.8 cm in            width.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 9 per lateral branch.        -   Leaf color.—Young foliage upper surface 173A, lower surface            174B, top 199C, mature foliage upper surface 146C, tinged            177A and 200C, mature foliage lower surface 147C, tinged            195A, fall color upper and lower surface 177A and 200A.        -   Petiole.—An average of 2.1 cm in length, 1.2 mm in width,            strong, both sides smooth, glabrous, moderately glossy,            colors; young leaves upper surface 180A, mature leaves upper            surface 183B, young leaves lower surface 180B, mature leaves            lower surface 178A to 178B.        -   Stipules.—2 leafy stipules present at the proximal end of            each petiole, narrow ovate to elliptical in shape, acute to            apiculate tip, narrow cuneate base, an average of 6 mm in            length and 2.5 mm in width, margins are irregularily            serrate, color; upper surface 180B, margins 148A, lower            surface 180C, margins 146A to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type.—Small rotate flowers arranged in spherical            corymb, similar to parents and typical of the species            Physocarpus opulifolius.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower lastingness.—Average of one week, self-cleaning.        -   Flower bud description.—Ovate in shape, average of 4 mm in            length and 2 mm in diameter, surface is smooth, matte and            glabrous, 144A to 144B in color.        -   Flower quantity.—Average of 25 flowers per inflorescence,            250 flowers per plant, up to 1000 flowers and flower buds            per plant.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 4.5 cm in height and            diameter.        -   Flower size.—Average of 6 mm in height, diameter, and depth.        -   Peduncles.—Average of 3 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter,            moderately strong, held in a straight vertical angle, 144A            in color, surface is glabrous, matte, and smooth.        -   Pedicels.—Average of 2.1 cm in length and 0.5 mm in            diameter, moderately strong, held in an average angle of 25°            to vertical, 144B in color, surface is glabrous, matte, and            smooth.        -   Petal description.—5, broadly ovate in shape, margin is            entire, short apiculate apex, 3 mm in length, 2 mm in width,            upper and lower surface glabrous, velvety, matte, and            non-rugose, color: when opening upper surface NN155D,            strongly tinged 65B, when opening lower surface NN155D,            tinged 65B to 65C, when fully open upper and lower surface            NN155D, tinged 65D.        -   Calyx.—Rotate, average of 4 mm in length, 6 mm in diameter.        -   Sepal description.—5, rotate, cup-shaped, entire margins,            acute apex, broadly cuneate base, an average of 4 mm in            length and 1.5 mm in width, both surfaces are matte, upper            surface moderately pubescent covered with short adpressed            hairs an average of 0.2 mm in length, too small to measure            color, color: when opening and fully open upper surface            138D, when opening and fully open lower surface 144B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistils; 5, 3.5 cm in length, stigmas;            club-shaped, 0.5 mm in length and diameter, 151D in color,            styles; 3 mm in length, 150D in color, ovary; 145C in color.        -   Androecium.—Stamens; 25, anthers; double kidney-shaped, 0.3            mm in length and width, 159B to 159C, filaments; 2 mm in            length, 157D in color, pollen; none.        -   Fruit and seed.—None produced.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus plant named‘LP1’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.